Immanuel

(Photobucket)

Let me tell you a true story of a silent night...

 About that time Caesar Augustus ordered a census to be taken throughout the Empire.
This was the first census when Quirinius was governor of Syria.
Everyone had to travel to his own ancestral hometown to be accounted for.

So Joseph went from the Galilean town of Nazareth up to Bethlehem in Judah,
 David's town, for the census. As a descendant of David, he had to go there.
He went with Mary, his fiancée, who was pregnant.




While they were there, the time came for her to give birth.
 She gave birth to a son, her firstborn.
She wrapped him in a blanket and laid him in a manger,
because there was no room in the hostel.

 

There were sheepherders camping in the neighborhood. They had set night watches over their sheep. Suddenly, God's angel stood among them and God's glory blazed around them. They were terrified. The angel said, "Don't be afraid. I'm here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide: A Savior has just been born in David's town, a Savior who is Messiah and Master. This is what you're to look for: a baby wrapped in a blanket and lying in a manger."


At once the angel was joined by a huge angelic choir singing God's praises:

Glory to God in the heavenly heights,
Peace to all men and women on earth who please him.

As the angel choir withdrew into heaven, the sheepherders talked it over.
 "Let's get over to Bethlehem as fast as we can and see for ourselves what God has revealed to us."
They left, running, and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. Seeing was believing.
They told everyone they met what the angels had said about this child.
All who heard the sheepherders were impressed.

Mary kept all these things to herself, holding them dear, deep within herself.

The sheepherders returned and let loose,

glorifying and praising God for everything they had heard and seen.

 It turned out exactly the way they'd been told!

When the eighth day arrived, the day of circumcision, the child was named

 Jesus

(which means "the Lord saves)
the name given by the angel before he was conceived. 

God gave us the greatest Gift

the world has ever seen.

What must we do to accept this gift?

(etsy)

 For unto us a child is born,

unto us a son is given,

and the government will be on his shoulders.

And he will be called

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6

I hope you and your loved ones have a very Merry Christmas this year
as you celebrate the birth of our savior.

Blessings and love,
Laurie
 

Scripture from Luke 2:1-21 The Message
Photos from The Nativity Story

Just for fun

"Snowflakes that stay

on my nose and eyelashes"

(source: Sunday in Bed )

Word-Filled Wednesday ~ His Name

(Source: Heartlight)

JESUS

 My eyes often swell with tears at the sound of His name, and reading it in print

also stirs my heart with such an indescribable peace.

 It is as if everything else disappears and I am in His presence,

and it is just Him and me.

It is no wonder, really, for the name of Jesus means,

"The Lord Saves."

Go ahead...whisper it, this name above all names,

and know the peace of the Savior.

JESUS

Fill your cup with the Word at the Internet Cafe!

WFW is not about books, authors, artists.. it’s about God and HIS WORD ONLY.
WFW is about celebrating the gift of creativity through God’s Word.

Hallelujah Chorus

A friend told me about this the other day and then my sister-in-law sent it to me.
(Thanks, Shilloy and Buffy!)
 Over 100 participants in this awesome Christmas Flash Mob. This is a must see!
 Enjoy!

Advent Calendars

I have been seeing a few advent calendars on blogs and in magazines and catalogs,

and even though I am a little late, here are a few favorites...

(source)

Gingerbread cookies serve as the dates!

(source)

I  love the whimsy this was has!

(source)

(source)

Perhaps I still have a few old number flashcards left from teaching!

 (County Living)

pretty with lace

(source)

(source)

(source, via tumbler)

This one...

and this...

are from Potterybarn.

This last one caught my eye on the PB website, but the cost was a bit much,

so I intended to make my own. I sent away for a few small canvas bags and they arrived, but

the snowy roads have kept me from getting to a fabric store for the backing. I have

a stencil for the numbers but also need to buy fabric paint.

 Maybe this will make a great project to make ahead for next year!

In the meantime, I could hang the bags from ribbon...

How about you? Do you use an Advent calendar to countdown the days until Christmas?

The Angel's Song

by William Drummond of Hawthornden (1585-1649)

Run, shepherds, run where Bethlehem blest appears.

We bring the best of news; be not dismayed:

A Saviour there is born more old than years,

Amidst heaven's rolling height this earth who stayed.

In a poor cottage inned, a virgin maid,

A weakling did him bear, who all upbears;

There is he poorly swaddled, in manger laid,

To whom too narrow swaddlings are our spheres:

Run, shepherds, run, and solemnize his birth.

This is that night — no, day, grown great with bliss,

In which the power of Satan broken is:

In heaven be glory, peace unto the earth!

Thus singing, through the air the angels swarm,

And cope of stars re-echoèd the same.

Or say, if this new Birth of ours

Sleeps, laid within some ark of flowers,

Spangled with dew-light; thou canst clear

All doubts, and manifest the where.

Declare to us, bright star, if we shall seek

Him in the morning's blushing cheek,

Or search the beds of spices through,

To find him out?

Star. — No, this ye need not do;

But only come and see Him rest,

A princely babe, in's mother's breast.

Welcome, December!

(my photo)

An old wool sweater that belonged to my mom,

and old skates that belong to Lauren.

A couple of items we always decorate with at Christmas.

The skates will go on the front porch and hold

a sprig or 2 of greenery and candy canes.

It is such comfort to continue a few of the little traditions

we have done year after year. As the days pass, I will

be adding a few more decoration traditions.

What are some of yours?